Expansible form for packing and exhibiting garments



No. 770,492. PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904 J. G. BIXBY. BXPANsIBLE FORM FOR PACKING AND EXHIBITING GARMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1904.

NO MODEL.

30:??? esfies a) I J 3 52 ose 1x6 13 cu b rney4 UNITED STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH G. BIXBY, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,492, dated September 20, 1904. Application filed June 13, 1904:. Serial No. 212,433. (No model.)

T0 0. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JosnrH G. 13mm, of the city of Decatur, county of Macon, and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Expansible Form for Packing and Exhibiting Garments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to the waist portion of a burial-robe; and the object is to provide means whereby the garment may be packed in comparatively flat condition for shipping and storing and may be expanded and supported to exhibit its proper shape.

The invention is exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and it is defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan or front elevation of an embodiment of my invention, showing the device in a flattened condition. Fig. 2 is a similar representation of the device in an extended condition. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the form-plate and the swingable flap used to distend the garment, the flap being laid flat against the form-plate. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the form-plate and the garment-distending flap, showing the flap swung away from the plate, as in act of distention.

The form-plate 1 is shaped to conform in a general way to the sidewise extension of a waist, and it is preferably formed of pasteboard. A block 2 is attached to the upper or neck edge of the form-plate, and another block, 3, is attached to the lower end of the formplate, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Ashaft or rod 5 is journaled in blocks 2 and 3. Aknob 6 is preferably formed on the upper end of the rod and the dist-ending-plate 7 is secured at one edge to the rod, so as to swing therewith. A strip 4 extends from one block to the other in position to arrest the swing of flap 7 when the flap is swung at right angles to the form-plate, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4:.

The form-plate and the swingable flap comprise the essential elements of my invention; but to aid in giving form to the distended garment I prefer to arrange a set of flexible and somewhat elastic strips in front of the swingable flap and to secure such strips to the form plate in a manner'permitting some freedom of motion in the strips as the flap is swung away from the form-plate. In this instance the strips are shown at 8, 9, 10, and 11 in Figs. 1 and 2, and they are secured in position by tapes 12, which are attached to the corners of the form-plate, are extended from side to side of the plate beneath the strips, and are interlaced through the strips to help retain the strips in position. When the garment is packed on the form, the strips lie flat and 0ccupy no space of any consequence; but when the flap is turned outward the centers of the strips are pressed outward beyond the swinging edge of the flap, while the ends of the strips curve gradually toward the form and give a bust-like contour to the garment. It is obvious that the strips or their equivalent may be constructed and disposed in an almost endless variety of ways, and I do not wish to confine myself to any particular construction or arrangement.

It has heretofore been customary in packing the waist of burial-robes to provide the bust portion of the garment with a pillow or the like. This increases the size of the box in which the garment is packed and is of no assistance in exhibiting the garment outside the box in which it is shipped. By the use of my device the garment may be packed compactly, may be extended to show its proper form, and may be taken from the box and supported in various positions for purposes of exhibition.

While the device was originally designed for use in connection with burial-robes, it is obvious that its utility is not confined to that,

class of'garments.

I claim- 1. In a garment-exhibitor, the combination of a flat form-plate and a swingable flap hinged to the front of the plate.

2. In a garment-exhibitor, the combination of afiat form-plate and a swingable flap hinged to the plate lengthwise thereof.

3. In a garment-exhibitor, the combination of a flat form-plate, a swingable flap hinged to the front of the plate lengthwise thereof and a stop to limit the swing of the flap.

4. In a garment-exhibitor, the combination of a flat form-plate, a swingable flap hinged to the front of the plate lengthwise thereof and a set of strips extending from side to side of the plate across the flap.

5. In agarment-exhibitor, the combination 7 of a flat form-plate, a swingable flap hinged to the front of the plate lengthwise thereof, a set of strips extending from side to side of the plate across the flap and tapes to hold the strips in position.

- 6. In a garment-exhibitor, the combination of a form-plate, a pair of blocks secured to the plate at opposite ends thereof, a stop-strip 

